Survey Finds Majority of Cambodian Media Practitioners Rate Press Freedom as ‘Good’

PHNOM PENH, April 30, 2026 (KPT) — Around 80 percent of media practitioners in Cambodia view press freedom positively, according to a national survey released by the Ministry of Information ahead of World Press Freedom Day.

The report, The State of Press Freedom in Cambodia 2026, found that 80.8 percent of respondents rated press freedom as “good,” while 85.8 percent said they had full freedom to gather information and publish news. More than 70 percent reported no threats or harassment in the past year, and 84.6 percent said they had never faced lawsuits related to their reporting.

The survey also showed 75.3 percent of respondents rated press order as “good,” up from 71.8 percent in 2025. Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said the findings aim to assess the health of the media sector and guide future policy, highlighting reforms in regulatory frameworks, institutional modernization and dispute mediation.

Officials noted that the ministry has continued to mediate disputes involving journalists, encourage out of court settlements and provide legal support in cases that proceed through the judicial system. They emphasized that professional training, legal awareness and ethical guidance remain priorities to strengthen journalism standards.

The report comes ahead of World Press Freedom Day 2026, observed under the theme “Shaping a Peaceful Future: Strengthening Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security.” Authorities said press freedom must be balanced with compliance, ethics and social responsibility to safeguard information security, public order and national stability.